Lady Tigers finish second in Class 2 wrestling, Scout Puryear and Emily Brixey claim state titles

By Michael L. Misfeldt 
 
The 2025-26 Willard High School wrestling season has come to end as both the girls and the boys teams competed in Columbia on Friday, Feb. 27 and Saturday, Feb. 28 in their respective Class 2 and Class 3 state tournaments.
 
The Lady Tigers finished in second place overall with 114 points in Class 2. Nixa was crowned team champion with 122.5 points, followed by Willard, Troy Buchanan (96), Liberty (95), Fort Osage (86), Francis Howell (Central) (79), North Kansas City (78.5), Republic (73.5), Eureka (71) and Staley (68,5) in the top 10.
 
Willard would find themselves with two state champions, as Scout Puryear (46-4) would win the 130-pound weight class and Emily Brixey (41-3) would win the 170-pound weight class. Lynanae Dixon (36-11) 115-pound weight class and Harmony Moore (40-5) 190-poind weight class both finished third in the state. Chloe Kirksey (34-10) finished sixth in the 100-pound weight class.
 
Boys wrestling
 
The boys team finished in seventh place overall in the Class 3 tournament, St. Michael the Archangel finished first with 172.5 points, followed by Kearney (155.5), Helias Catholic (141), Hillsboro (92), Carl Junction (84.5), Jefferson City (70), Willard (68), Whitfield (66.5), Warrenton (62.5) and Hannibal (59.5) round out the top 10.
 
Porter Talbot (43-2) finished third in the 215-pound weight class. Brandon Gerhardt (29-17), 113-pound weight class and Gunner Puryear (40-8), 157-pound weight class both finished fifth. Kade Shurtz (37-14) finished sixth in the 175-pound weight class.